10 ways to make the most of self-isolation (Quarantine and chill edition)

We’re all staying at home during this pandemic. Because self-isolation is a must. It’s weird to not have the option to go out for a meal or grab a drink. And I miss hanging out with friends.

But, I’m dealing like everyone else. Washing my hands, staying inside, and taking long (socially-distanced) walks with the pupper. He really is my best friend right now. We quarantine and chill.

And we are staying worked out and hydrated throughout this thing, ok?

Here are 10 things getting me through this lockdown.

May the lord open.

10 things to do during quarantine and chill

I’m not sure what today is or how long I’ve been here, but March 2020 is shaping up to be the longest year of my life. I’m actually enjoying the chance to slow down for a bit and reconnect to myself.

Here’s what I’ve been up to.

1. Order Uber Eats/local delivery

The service industry is taking a beating right now. No movies, concerts, sports… or restaurants. As much as I love cooking at home, I still want to support the eateries my area.

I use Uber Eats to get food delivered. They have no contact delivery options. And they’re waiving all delivery fees if you order local. How cool is that?

No delivery fees with Uber Eats

If you use my code, you can also get $7 off your first order with no minimum. After downloading the app, click the “Promotions” tab and enter an existing user’s promo code.

Mine is “eats-rfufr” if you want to use it. This will give you $7 to use toward your first order.

Or if you’re in Dallas like me (or Austin), order directly from the restaurants because now you can get cocktails delivered. Yes, you can have a margarita delivered right to your door.

Lord knows restaurants need all the business they can get right now. Order local – no chains!

2. Get groceries delivered

I can’t order in every day because that gets expensive. And tbh, my company is trimming their budget left and right and I’m low-key worried about my job. Thank gods I have Amazon Prime, because 2-hour delivery from Whole Foods is free (and I mostly eat fruits and veggies at home, so that’s perf).

Instacart will send a driver to shop for you and deliver groceries to your door

If you prefer other stores, definitely checkout out Instacart because they have most stores available on there. My mom is obsessed with getting Aldi groceries delivered via Instacart.

With both services, you can schedule a window of time to get your items delivered – and both offer no contact delivery.

Don’t even have to go out and practice my social distancing

The good thing about Amazon Prime is you can verify store availability before checkout, which is helpful for items that have been selling out quickly, like TP, tissues, hand soap, etc. It’s not a perfect system, but at least you don’t have to get out and check for yourself.

3. Try new recipes

What do we do with these delivered groceries? Get to munchin’.

Now’s your chance to bake, sautee, air fry, Instapot, slow cook, and generally experiment to your heart’s content.

Salad game strong

I for one have been making some bomb-ass salads. They’re little masterpieces, each one.

#omgyum

And baking delish homemade crisps, steaming veggies, and trying new combinations in my morning smoothies. Viewing this extended stay-at-home retreat as a culinary cornucopia is a much better way of thinking of it than a “lockdown.”

My wanderings to the kitchen fill me with wonder whereas before it would be a rushed fumbling to “get it done.” It really is the little things.

I’ve also been telling my food thank you and pondering their long journey to my kitchen before eating. I haven’t lost my marbles – it’s a small but powerful act of mindfulness I’d encourage you to try. Again – little things.

4. Catch up on movies

I love firing up Netflix and Hulu knowing I got all night, baby. Just me and you. I rewatched The First Wive’s Club, started Little Fires Everywhere (no one plays an uptight suburban housewife like Reese Witherspoon), and added Tiger King next to my queue (can’t wait!).

Now that film productions are suspended, it makes me grateful to all the actors and artists that made these films and shows over the years. I finally feel like I can catch up a little – although there’s soooo much content out there, it’s nigh on impossible to ever really get caught up.

5. Read books

I am loving my mountain of unread books right now. I have a few paperbacks and loaded up several to my Kindle. There’s nothing like grabbing a beer and swaddling under covers with a book and consuming words and ideas, conjuring images in my mind, and being transported by another’s descriptions. Things I ordinarily wouldn’t notice or describe are laid out so differently than I’d perceive. That’s the magic of reading, ain’t it?

This book is exquisitely kinky

Right now, I’m reading Existential Kink, which is a delightfully kinky way of uniting your unconscious desires with your ego and transmuting them into a glorious alchemical marriage. It’s about making the unconscious conscious and taking delight in the adorable, quirky, mess of life and realizing you’re the context on which the content is based.

It’s heady stuff, and perfect for ruminating with a cold beer in hand on a quiet evening at home.